#Maybe DC!Peter is actually a good guy and they both work together to send Peter home but v

[twpsyn-who]

What I need is a Spider-Man x DC fic in which there's actually a DC!Peter Parker, but the guy is helping one of the villains and our Spider-Man tries to convinge his alternative universe version to stop and use his smarts for good but fails. And we have a big "With great power comes great responsibility" moment, but is between Peter Parker (not Spider-Man) and DC!Peter Parker and it works but just as they're hugging it out one of them gets shot and dies. No clue which one or by who.

And a Peter Parker is stuck with the revelation that everyone he will ever care about will ultimately die because of him, another version of himself included.

[lyssismagical]

Maybe 28 and 57 for the prompt writing? That would be really cute 💖

28 - “No, like…. It’s just, I can’t believe you’re actually wearing my clothes.”

57 - “Who changed the thermostat settings? I’m freezing to death.” 

Idk how it happened but nearly 4k words of Cheerleading Captain!Peter x Quarterback!Harley for your consideration

 *

Joining a new school in junior year wasn’t easy. Moving from Tennessee to New York was even harder.

But if there was one thing Harley had on his side, he was a fantastic football player. And everyone knew football players were top of the social pyramid.

“Quarterback? Really?” One of the boys say when he says it to the coach. “You think the new kid will get the position?”

Harley shrugs. “I played in Tennessee. I won every game.”

The coach lifts an eyebrow and then nods in approval. “Ever since the schoolboard started talking about implementing athletics at a STEM school, we’ve been pretty emptyhanded. Not enough students willing to drop robotics to join a team, not enough good students. We won one game last year out of a total of nearly fifteen.”

With a smug grin, he rolls his shoulders and slips his helmet over his head.

He gets Quarterback with ease.

As he’s leaving the field after tryouts, he notices a group of girls and a boy congregating by the bleachers, all dressed in blue and gold.

“You’re new here,” a girl says, appearing beside him. He recognizes her, having been sitting in the bleachers alone during tryouts. She’s not wearing a football uniform or the ones the group across from them is wearing.

“Harley Keener,” he replies. “You’re Michelle, right? You’re in my chemistry class.”

She offers half a smile. “MJ. I heard you landed Quarterback.”

“Not that it was particularly hard, there’s not much competition.”

Looping their arms together, she leads him a few more feet away from the group. “They’re the cheerleaders in case you didn’t know. Cindy, the one with the pink water bottle, she’s co-captain. And Peter Parker is captain, he’s been captain since freshman year.”  

“He’s captain?”

MJ’s smile turns knowing. “Yeah, he’s captain. Too bad you missed him in freshman year. The school didn’t have the budget for two sets of cheerleader uniforms, so Peter had to wear the short skirt the whole first year. I had to teach him how to shave his legs. Now he gets to wear pants.”

Harley turns, pretends not to look, but still says, “The pants are nice.”

“I know what that’s code for,” MJ laughs.

Indignant, Harley huffs, “I’m not a creep, his pants are just really tight.”

“Well, he is both single and bisexual, so if you’re courageous enough, I’d say to shoot your shot, Keener.”

Before Harley has the time to reply, MJ’s already walking off towards the school, without even a glance over her shoulder.

Harley’s not courageous enough to ask Peter out. All he does is wave from a distance, reveling in Peter’s little smile in return before making his way to the locker rooms.

* The first game of the season they nearly lose thanks to Harley’s constant staring at Peter on the sidelines.

The next two games, he focuses so intently on winning for Peter that they totally annihilate the other teams.

At the end of their third game, a home game, Harley’s on his way to the showers, grinning at his teammates when Peter catches up to them.

“Congratulations on your win,” he says.

Harley’s stunned into silence. It’s the first time he’s really seen Peter up close. They only share one class together, Spanish, and they sit on opposite ends, with Harley only able to see the back of his head.

But Peter’s gorgeous.

His brown curls are messy from the last few hours of cheering on the sidelines and the halftime show, some of it still sticking to his forehead. His pale skin is practically glowing in the lights of the field, bambi-brown eyes sparkling and wide, and chest still heaving from the exertion of their last, over-the-top performance. His arms are practically straining in the tight t-shirt he’s wearing, the gold accents making his eyes look a little more honey, smile wide on his face.

“I, uh-” Harley chokes out, cursing himself for acting dumb. “Thank you. You guys were pretty incredible.”

“Thanks.” A soft blush rises on his cheeks, makes him look down, smile turning shy. “Good luck on your next game. The Brooklyn Team’s the best in state.”

Harley can’t help the frown. “You won’t be there?”

“I’ve got Academic Decathlon competition in DC that weekend. But good luck anyways.”

“You too…” Harley feels like his chest is constricting over the knowledge that Peter’s smart too. “I, uh, I guess I’ll see you around?”

Peter smiles sweetly and leans up to press a kiss to his cheek. “Yeah, I’ll see you around.”

* Over the next few weeks of short conversations after games or practices, Harley finds himself watching Peter all the time.

Peter wears his cheerleading uniform all day everyday like the others do, head held high and students parting for him like he’s royalty. He’s friends with pretty much everyone, sending smiles and having short conversations as he goes down the hallway to class.

He’s also unbelievably kind, stopping teasing at every chance he gets, using his popularity to keep people in line, being nice to even the nerdiest looking freshmen.

Harley finds himself falling hard the longer he knows Peter.

Watching the way he moves with grace and confidence in such contrast to the way he blushes and smiles shyly whenever he’s complimented. It makes Harley’s heart clench with this crush that feels like it’s developing way too fast for his own comfort.

* “Could I talk to you?” Peter asks him after practice.

Harley’s still sweaty, still uncomfortably warm in his pads and uniform, helmet dangling from his fingertips leaving his hair messy and ruffled. But he offers a smile. “Yeah, everything okay?”

The cheerleader looks uncomfortable, turning his gaze to the grass, chewing on his bottom lip.

“Hey,” Harley says, voice dropping low and quiet as he pulls them farther away from their teams, trying his best to keep his thoughts away from Peter’s bicep flexing wondrously beneath his fingers. “You can talk to me, whatever it is.”

“It’s just embarrassing…” Peter looks up at Harley through his eyelashes. “My grades have dropped in a few of my classes, and I know we only share Spanish, but I kinda got MJ to snoop and it turns out you have one of the highest GPA’s in school.”

Harley frowns because that can’t possibly be right. “From what I’ve seen in Spanish class, you seem really smart.”

“Well, I don’t want to sound overly confident, but I am smart. I’ve just had a bad habit of slacking off when it comes to homework. So my grades aren’t looking too hot and my aunt threatened to make drop out of cheerleading if I didn’t get it in order.”

Offering a reassuring smile, Harley nods. “Not really tutoring, but I can sit with you in the library and help you work through the homework? More like study date- sessions. Study sessions.”

Peter positively lights up in a grin. “Wow, really? Thank you! I’ve got cheerleading practice three nights a week and Academic Decathlon every other night, so I’m not really free, but if you’re willing to hang out after your football practices…”

“Yeah, of course, sounds perfect. We’ll start Wednesday?”

“Yes! Thank you! I promise I’ll be a good study partner. I’ll see you around, Harley!”

And with that, Peter skips off to catch up with his cheerleader friends.

Harley can only shake his head in wonder and head off to the lockers.

* Wednesday comes quickly, and Harley’s glad because with how much time he spends daydreaming about Peter, he’s not sure he can keep up his grades either.

But soon enough, he’s waiting outside the locker rooms for Peter, hoping that the shower was enough to wash away the sweat from the tough practice.

“Hey!” Peter says, bubbly and smiling brightly. “I know we said we’d study at the library, but I’m getting a little bit sick of being inside all day. Do you want to work out on the bleachers?”

Harley nods, swallowing thickly and trying his best to keep his eyes strictly on Peter face and not watch his arms or his neck or his legs. “Sounds good.”

They head out into the setting sun, playfully nudging shoulders and nearly racing each other to get to the bleachers first, which ends in Peter laughing and shouting when he makes it their first.

“So, I heard from MJ this morning that you were being unbelievably humble when you said you were smart. She said you have a genius IQ. And you needed study help, why?”

“I told you,” Peter says, laughing. “I haven’t done homework in nearly three years. My grades are solely based on test scores and participation which would be fine if the take-home projects weren’t weighted so heavily.”

Harley rolls his eyes but takes out his Chemistry textbook anyways. “Alright, let’s get you caught up then. You’ve got nearly two months of homework to catch up on.”

“Let’s do this then.”

It turns out, Harley loves watching Peter work. He really is a genius, easily getting the work done like it’s second nature to him, able to answer mathematical equations without a calculator or a second thought, speed reading his way through chapters in the textbook. And it definitely helps that he looks absolutely stunning in the light of the setting sun and the gentle wind.

Eventually, though, they can’t stay much longer with the fading, and curfew closing in.

“Thanks for your help today… Same time Friday?” Peter asks, eyes all wide and hopeful, smile sweet.

“Actually, not to be presumptuous, but we’d have more time if we hung out for longer… Would you want to come over? Spend the night? We could work later and get more done on Saturday?”

Peter thinks about it for a moment and then he shrugs. “I don’t think my aunt would be happy with me spending the night, but you’re welcome to come to mine?”

“Sounds like a plan, Parker. You need a ride home?”

“Sure, yeah, thanks.”

Harley helps pack up their things and then takes Peter’s bag before leading him out to his truck. He opens the door for Peter, memorizing the dazzling smile he gives in return.

They only have half an hour together on the drive home, but it’s enough time for them to share more personal information.

Harley tells Peter about his sister and his mom, about Tennessee and how different life was there, how much he loves New York in comparison. He talks about getting quarterback, winning games, being on top of the social hierarchy for the first time in his life.

Peter, in turn, mentions quietly how he was bullied in the ninth grade before and when he first joined the cheerleaders. How at first, people told him it was girls team, that it wasn’t meant for him. But then they won their first trophy which snowballed into him becoming captain and leading them to win nationals and get them fifth in worlds. And then, very quickly, he became the most popular kid in school.

By the time they reach Peter’s apartment, Harley feels like they’ve grown closer and he doesn’t want to say goodbye to him.

“Today was really nice,” Peter murmurs, leaning across to kiss Harley on the cheek. “Thanks for helping me out. I’ll see you at school tomorrow and then Friday night?”

The words are on the tip of his tongue, wanting to ask Peter out, change Friday Night into a Date Night instead of a Study Session.

But then Peter’s hopping out of his truck, bag slung over his shoulder and gold accents of his uniform glimmering in the streetlights. And Harley misses his chance.

* Peter’s quiet the whole way to his apartment, bag sitting in his lap.

He looks almost out of place in the outside world while still in his Midtown Cheerleading Uniform. But Harley’s still in his jersey, so it’s not so strange in comparison.

Peter leads him into his cozy apartment, empty apart from them, and they make themselves at home in the living room around the coffee table.

“Everything okay?” Harley asks, almost startling himself with his own voice. He was planning on leaving it alone, he’s not really Peter’s friend.

“Yeah, I just kind of have a lot riding on this.” Peter’s quiet for a second, fiddling with his nails before he explains, “I can’t afford to go to a school like Midtown, but I got awarded a full ride. If I don’t get my grades up, I might be put on academic probation, have my scholarship taken away… I’d have to switch schools for my senior year, also meaning I’d probably lose the university scholarships I might’ve been offered for cheerleading.”

Harley mulls over it for a moment before shrugging. “Well, you have a very good study partner on your side. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure your grades are up by exams. Don’t start thinking of the worst-case scenarios just yet.”

The tenseness leaves Peter’s shoulders in one exhale, expression softening. “Thanks. I don’t want to put pressure on you, but-”

“That’s what I’m here for.”

Smiling, Peter opens his bag and they get to work.

Time passes quickly when they’re focused on getting things done, it’s not hard for Peter to get closer and closer to catching up, but there’s only so much they can do before boredom and hunger starts to set in.

They order pizza, Harley offering to pay but Peter insistent after Harley’s helped him so much.

“You know,” Harley says after Peter gets off the phone, “Breaks are important to keep up consistent work.”

Peter grins knowingly, flopping down onto the couch beside Harley. “Are they?”

“As an avid homework-doer and studier, I can totally say that breaks are important. So, I suggest we do pizza and a movie, and then a bit more work before bed.”

“Of course. And as someone who doesn’t do homework or study, I can’t disagree with anything you say. Here.” Peter gives him the TV remote. “Let me go get changed, I can only wear this for so long before I start craving sweatpants, and when I get back, we’ll start on a movie of your choosing.”

Harley picks out Star Wars, seemingly a safe bet considering the very obvious Star Wars poster stuck to the wall above the couch, and texts Abbie in the meantime who teases him endlessly, already having figured out his crush on Peter.

“Star Wars! It’s like you read my mind!” Peter calls out, slipping around the couch.

“I mean there’s science so it’s-” But the words are gone as soon as he sees Peter.

He looks so much different than the Cheerleading Captain Harley’s always seen him as, tucked in a pair of loose sweatpants and an even looser t-shirt, hair mussed and body relaxed. God, if Harley thought he looked incredible in his uniform, it’s nothing compared to the way he looks relaxed and content in lounge clothes.

“So it’s…” Peter prompts, forehead creasing but smiling in amusement.

“Sorry, I- You’re just- Sorry, I’ve never seen you outside your uniform before,” Harley says, voice suddenly thick. “The movie’s educational, that’s all.”

Peter giggles, sitting down beside Harley, against Harley, and presses play so the beginning credits begin to roll. “I’m going to take that as a compliment, but I don’t think Star Wars counts as educational.”

“It is a compliment!” Harley gasps, higher than he means it to come out. “I was just surprised is all… You’re- It’s just- Wow.”

He laughs again. “Wow? For someone with a nearly perfect GPA, that’s not the most articulate compliment.”

“I meant- Oh god, I’m totally embarrassing myself, aren’t I?” He runs a hand through his hair, feeling his face flush warmly. “I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s sweet. I get a lot of compliments, but most about how my ass looks in the uniform, so I do appreciate being complimenting for being wow while in sweats.”

Harley’s eyes go wide, and he’s quick to try to redeem himself, “You’re just really pretty is all! That was worse than wow, wasn’t it? I’m just making this worse.”

“You think I’m pretty?” Peter repeats, eyes so soft and open and earnest. “That’s a new one.”

For once, Harley manages to keep his mouth shut, not wanting to say anything more, but Peter’s still blushing and smiling when he turns back to the TV, shaking his head fondly.

*

Long after pizza and their movie’s done, homework continued through until they were laughing too much to continue to think straight, Peter finally calls it a night.

Harley changes in the bathroom and purposefully leaves his jersey on the back of the couch, while Peter makes him a bed on the couch.

It would’ve been a good time, Harley knows, to ask that question, to see if this will lead in another direction, but he chickens out and ends up just with, “Goodnight, Peter.”

And Peter smiles, all warm and sweet, and he murmurs, “Night, Harley.”

And that’s that.

In the morning, Harley wakes to the smell of coffee.

He pretends he’s still asleep when he hears voices drifting in from the kitchen.

“So that’s the infamous Harley Keener,” a woman says, Harley guesses it’s Peter’s aunt.

“He’s helping me get my grades up.”

The woman laughs. “For someone with a genius IQ, I don’t know how you managed to let your grades drop like that. It’s not his fault? Or cheerleading?”

“No, May, I promise I’m working on it.”

“Good. Don’t let him get in the way of your education or focus, honey. Don’t let him hurt you, alright?”

Harley finally stretches up, making himself known as awake. He yawns, looking over the back of the couch towards the kitchen. “Morning.”

Peter lights up in a smile. “Morning, Harley. You want coffee?”

“Sure, thanks.”

He slips up just as May says she’s off to bed, still wearing her nurse scrubs, and he offers a quiet greeting to her on her way out.

And then it’s just him and Peter.

“Sleep well?” Harley asks when the silence stretches a second too long. Peter nods, passing him the mug of hot coffee. It’s a Star Wars mug and he can feel his cheeks warm.

“We don’t really have much breakfast food… You wanna maybe go out somewhere to get some?”

Harley, still sleep-warm and relaxed, jumps as the chance. “Do you want to go out? Like on a proper date? Breakfast? On me?”

“The quarterback with the cheerleading captain?” Peter says. “That’s a bit of a cliché, isn’t it?”

“I suppose. Is that a no?”

Peter seems to ponder it for a moment before he shrugs. “I kind of love clichés.”

“Breakfast then.”

Grinning, Peter nods, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek. “Let me get dressed and then we’ll go.”

“Perfect.”

As soon as he’s left alone in the kitchen, he pumps his fists in the air, barely managing to stifle his excited cheer.

“I saw that!” Peter calls out.

Flushing, Harley quickly sets down his coffee, grabs his bag and heads to the bathroom to get changed quickly, wishing he’d packed something nicer than jeans and a flannel.

“I’m surprised you’re not in your uniform,” he says when he sees Peter waiting by the door.

He’s wearing a pair of tight jeans and a simple t-shirt, grinning just as bright as always.

“I only wear it at school.”

Harley shrugs. “I was starting to think it was the only thing you owned.”

Peter links their hands together and pulls open the door, smiling just as bright as ever.

* All eyes turn towards the cafeteria doors.

“Oh my god-” Betty breathes from near Harley.

He looks over his shoulder, expecting to see something vaguely newsworthy but otherwise boring, but instead finds Peter.

Peter who’s wearing his blue and gold cheerleading uniform as always, curls messy and cheeks flushed pink, except he’s wearing a jersey over his uniform.

Harley’s jersey.

“Who changed the thermostat settings? I’m freezing to death,” Peter calls out, dramatically loudly to get the rest of the student’s eyes on him.

Harley trips up to his feet, eyes wide and shocked because after one date, Peter’s already announcing it to the world.

“You left this at my place,” Peter says, walking up to him. His eyes are bright and amused like he expected Harley to get this flustered. His voice drops to nearly a whisper. “I know it’s soon but I saw you staring, saw you watching me during practices. The only reason I saw is because I was watching you too. I want to make this official.”

“Yeah, I- Yeah, I want that.”

Peter grins, kissing Harley on the mouth for the first time, they’d parted yesterday with only a kiss on the cheek. When he pulls away, he’s still smiling. “Sorry about doing this here. I couldn’t wait. Too much?”

“No, like…. It’s just, I can’t believe you’re actually wearing my clothes,” Harley chokes out. “I’m just- You look good. I didn’t expect you to like me too.”

“I do. I really do.”

Harley finally smiles back at him, grabbing Peter by the waist to kiss him again. “You want to go out with me again? Wednesday? After practice?”

“I would love to. Can I- Would it be okay for it to be as boyfriends?”

“Okay? Yes, more than okay. I would really love that.”

Peter laughs, tucking himself close to Harley’s chest. “Wow. Boyfriends.”

For the rest of the year and the following year, they’re considered Midtown’s Power Couple.

And when they make it MIT together, Peter having managed near-perfect grades with Harley’s help, they’re considered MIT’s Power Couple too.

Taglist: @littlemissagrafina  @spidey-reids-2003  @romeoandjulietyouwish @c-artara @shadedrose01 @likeaphoenix13 @pj-hermes-tonystark-obsessed  @you-get-killed-walk-it-off @kitkatwinchester  @emo-girl10 @justme--emily  @hold-our-destiny @imalivebecauseirondad @spiderman-peterman @dykeragee @maryserrao @heeeyitskay @parknerandirondad @lilacsandlilies4 @loveliestdisappointment @joyful-soul-collector @genderfluid-and-confuzled {Let me know if you wanna be added or removed}

[lovelyirony]

prompt: its a thin line between all this love and hate, for whatever ship you want ☺️

The Carbonell family and the Barnes family were two that vied for complete control over the city, and either side would do anything to the other in order to have it. 

Maria Carbonell was a deceptive woman. She cared for the city deeply, but she would pull every underhanded move on the books in order to get what she wanted. She would watch houses burn down over coffee if it meant the Barnes slipped in control. 

Similarly, Winnie Barnes had taken over her husband’s mantle after he died overseas, learning what needed kindness and who she needed to talk to. 

Their children took to it like ducks to water. 

Tony Carbonell was smart, blisteringly so. He could fix a flat tire in thirty seconds, repaired guns in half the time it took the usuals, and learned strategy from his Mama. Tony learned how to subvert expectations that others expected. 

Bucky learned how to be the best shooter his side of the city and the Carbonell side, sweet-talked every single cop on duty, and knew how to use his weaknesses to his advantage. 

They obviously hated each other. 

And went to the same school. 

They never talked, not really. Tony kept to himself and looked as far from a young, organized criminal as possible. He wore old jeans, cardigans, and had a habit of pushing up thick glass lenses set in a dark blue frame. 

Bucky fit the part a tad better. Old white t-shirts, a leather jacket, and a penchant for challenging others, there wasn’t anything to the imagination. He roared in on a motorcycle, and sent glares Tony’s way any time he saw him. 

Tony was unbothered. He had schoolwork to do, coffee to drink, and a rival to undermine. If Bucky wanted to glare at him and not get anything done, hell he was welcome to it. 

“You need to actually do something,” Natasha tells Bucky. She’s already in with the family, dedicated to protecting others and making sure the more...unsavory things were kept out of the limelight. “Glaring at him isn’t gonna kill him.” 

“Can’t do anything on school grounds, Ma forbade it.” 

“Who said anything about killing him at school?” Natasha asks. “Do it elsewhere.” 

“He’s gonna expect it.” 

“Not if you fool him.” 

Bucky isn’t an idiot. He knows that Tony will think about it. He knows that Tony won’t let his guard down. He’s a genius, everyone says so. 

But hell, you gotta try. And Bucky has just the story. 

Tony’s a sucker for poor cases. The ones that are the outlier, the longshot. 

Bucky finds a freshman named Peter who needs a bit of encouragement, but he brings in his old, junkyard car to the Carbonell auto repair shop. 

Tony immediately falls for it. He loves helping people, and Peter is no exception. Peter forgets to act, actually being the young, lovable, “take me under your wing” kind of guy. 

And then Bucky walks in. 

Tony doesn’t say anything, just takes Bucky aside. 

“What are you doing here?!” Tony hisses. “You’re lucky no one shot you on sight, Barnes.” 

“My cousin needed me to pick him up,” Bucky says. 

“Peter’s your cousin?” Tony asks. He turns back to Peter, who is waving. “Bullshit.” 

“Not bullshit. True. Thanks for taking care of him. I appreciate it. He’s not in this like we are.” 

“Oh, so he doesn’t know that you’re part of a violent organization?” 

“Like you aren’t.” 

“He’s allowed here. You’re only allowed for pick-up,” Tony says, enunciating his words with a wrench bounced off of Bucky’s chest at each word. “And so help me God if you try to wreck something and I let Peter in, I’m going to make sure that I fucking destroy you.” 

Part one is complete. Peter’s doing well, although he says he feels guilty. 

“Tony’s nice, Bucky,” Peter says, squirming in the backseat. 

“You can say that about serial killers, you think Dahmer fit the bill?” Bucky asks with a snort. “You’re helping family, Peter. Nothing more noble than that.” 

- 

Tony knows he’s an idiot. But Peter’s smart, and Tony knows that the Barnes family isn’t like that. They can shoot worth a damn, they can’t teach worth a damn. Peter needs someone who gets it. And he does. 

What he doesn’t get is why Barnes comes to pick him up each time. He could send a driver and have common enough sense not to come over. Tony should have enough common sense to report him to his mother or someone. Maybe Rhodey. 

But he doesn’t. 

Because seeing Bucky Barnes smile down at his cousin, who talks a mile-a-minute, and talk a bit about how his day is going? It’s...refreshing. 

This doesn’t mean anything, of course. 

Tony can still go on hating Bucky and it’ll be fine. If he needs any reminders, all he has to remember is the time that Bucky had shot Tony’s knife out of his hand when he was up against Rogers. 

- 

As it turns out, there’s a more pressing matter to attend to. 

Hydra was thought to have been thrown out out of the mix, exiled to have their tiny share in DC. 

They couldn’t just stay away, and Tony and Bucky are both more than a bit stressed about what’s going to happen. Everything’s hanging on a thread. 

It is when the two families meet that a solution is come up with. 

“Look, we’re clearly getting nowhere trying to control one city,” Bucky starts out. 

“Agreed,” Tony says. “We can pool resources and work together.” There are grumblings on either side. 

“Hey,” Bucky snaps. “Either we disagree on both sides and waste resources or we work together to make sure someone worse taps out.” 

“Temporary truce. We share territory, work together,” Tony says. “Team up. Sound good?” 

“Fine,” Bucky says. “Just don’t get any ideas.” 

“Well we know you won’t get any,” Tony remarks. 

So it begins. 

It’s off to a rough start when Tony finds out that Peter knew exactly what he was doing. 

“Oh so you were playing the long game?” Tony asks. “Wanted to see if I would fall for your charm, Barnes?” 

“That was pre-agreement, null and void,” Bucky says. “Be reasonable, sweetheart.” 

“Do not sweetheart me,” Tony hisses. “You’re lucky I’m not across the table with a knife on your neck.” 

“Dessert first with you?” Bucky asks, grinning. Tony whirls around, leaving the office. 

Of course, they need to sell a truce. Everyone basically knows that Hydra’s looking to divide them, and it’ll be too damn easy if they both still hate each other. 

Insert “team bonding.” Bucky hates it, it’s a bullshit term. But he’s facing off against Rhodes, Potts, and Banner. 

“If you try to kill me I’m gonna put a fork in your knee,” Potts says off-handedly, pouring tea for herself and Banner. 

“Not the worst done,” Bucky remarks. “Best you guys got?” 

“Believe me after you see her with a fork, you’re gonna avoid spaghetti for a month,” Rhodes says. “A modern work of art, in some cases.” 

She blushes at that. Bucky makes a note that she and Nat might get along. 

They all actually...get along. Reasonably well. Enough to communicate when taking down Hydra operations on the docks, and to get shakes afterwards. 

Tony’s oddly in a good mood with the company of the Barnes’, which he usually isn’t. 

“We did good,” he says, stirring the strawberry shake. He has some on the corner of his mouth. 

“Yeah, we did,” Bucky says. “Still more to come.” 

Tony and Bucky learn more about each other over the next months. Tony doesn’t like planning in advance, and rarely follows one to a T. This annoys Steve to no end, and he threatens to bench Tony, which he actually can’t do because Tony’s essential to the missions succeeding. 

“You’re gonna have to deal with it,” Bucky says, frowning. 

“Since when have you defended him?” Steve asks. 

“Since we’re fighting something bigger than our feud,” Bucky answers. “Now shut up and get your tux on. Sooner we can get out of it.” 

If there’s one thing Bucky hates, it’s the political galas. They want to get the mayor sweetened up for some changes made in administration. There’s also the guarantee that Alexander Pierce is going to be there, and Maria and Winnie want to make sure that he’s taken care of fairly quickly. 

Bucky just hates these damned suits. He hates having to be ready, dressed to the nines in shoes that squeak and his hair swept back neatly. 

So of course Tony just has to show up looking sharply elegant. Dark, bloody red suit. Slight make-up. A dusty blush worked up. He looks handsome. 

Fuck. 

Bucky squirms with his tie. 

“Who tied that?” Tony asks, zeroing in on it. 

“Steve said it looked fine.” 

“Literally no,” Tony swears. “I’m fixing this goddamned thing, come here.” 

A.) Tony is short. Perfect height for his head to hit Bucky’s shoulders if he’s ever tired. 

B.) This close....well. That’s certainly doing something. 

Bucky can barely breathe, and it’s not because of the tie. 

“Are you gonna come or are you just gonna stand there and rely on your looks?” Tony asks. “Because it’s not gonna work out as well as you always think it will.” 

“That plan only works for you, sweetheart,” Bucky says. 

And Tony doesn’t say anything about that. He takes him by the hand. 

“United front and all that,” he explains. “If Pierce sees us together, it’s a stronger case for us.” 

“Sure,” Bucky murmurs. “Save a couple spots on your dance card then.” 

Tony blushes. 

“I--sure. I will.” 

[sdottkrames]

It’s Quiet Uptown

@comfortember Prompt 4: Anxiety

Summary:  Peter goes to his first big Avenger meeting and is a bit of an anxious boi. Wanda to the rescue.

Notes: I just really want more fics with Peter and all the avengers, ya know? Like, they fill my soul with happiness. So here, have an anxious Peter (sorry, baby) and then some comfort in the form of sweet Wanda. I feel like she deserves a little love. 

Also, this is totally inspired by the fact that Elizabeth Olsen lets Chris Evans draw on her hand when he gets anxious, which is the cutest thing 💜

Read it on AO3: Here

Peter was surprised. When he’d been told the team was meeting at the compound, he hadn’t expected to be included in that. He’d barely been made an avenger before he’d crumbled to dust with half of the rest of the world, so could you blame him? But they’d requested he come and meet the whole team. He’d fought alongside most of them in the big battle but never officially met them, and, honestly, Peter was already starstruck.

“Hey, Happy,” he chirped, sliding into the back of the van, bouncing his leg excitedly.

Happy nodded in the rearview mirror, but Peter was used to the “forehead of security” and his gruff nature, so he chatted happily to fill the silence.

“So Mr. Harrington said that I did really well last year in Academic Decathlon, and he wants to talk about making me co captain with MJ this year. MJ didn’t seem opposed. Actually, I think she’s starting to like me. Like, like-like me, you know? I keep finding her looking at me. I’m not entirely sure, though. Ned says that she might just be being MJ, but I kinda get the sense that it’s more.”

Happy smirked slightly in the front seat, and Peter was grateful that the older man didn’t mind his rambling. After rehashing everything going on in his life, Peter turned on some music, and was surprised to see Happy tapping the steering wheel in time with the beat.

They made it to the compound, and Peter happily accepted Tony’s welcome hug.

“How was the drive, Spider-ling,” the older man asked, slinging a casual arm around Peter’s shoulder. Peter leaned into it as they walked down the hallway, Happy trailing behind them.

“Great! Happy actually tapped along to my music, Mr. Stark. I think he’s coming around,” Peter said, shooting the man behind him a grin. He received rolled eyes in response.

Tony chuckled. “I’m sure he is, kid. It took me literal years to get him to warm up to Back in Black.”

“Oh, I love Led Zeppelin,” Peter said, and Tony screeched to a halt.

“You did not just say that.”

Peter just grinned and started walking backwards. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. C’mon. Keep up old man. We can’t be late for my first big Avengers meeting!”

Tony looked at Happy and shook his head. “I swear he’s going to send me to an early grave.”

“Sure, boss. Out of everything that kid does, confusing AC/DC and Led Zeppelin is what will do you in.”

Tony narrowed his eyes. “You know, you have a point.”

“Come on, you slow pokes,” Peter called, halfway down the hall. 

He had no trouble finding the room. It’s large, opaque glass doors are embossed with the Avengers logo, making it obvious. As he stared at those heavy glass doors, the enormity of what was happening hit him, and his excitement slowly faded. He was going to meet Natasha Romanoff. Bucky Barnes. Stever Rogers. Bruce Banner. Thor! Everyone.

His fears pinned him to the spot, and he was unable to move to open the door.

“Kid, you okay?” Tony asked, coming up behind him.

Peter swallowed. “Uh...yeah. Yeah.” In slow motion, as if from outside himself, he watched his hand reach to take the handles and open the door. His mouth felt like sandpaper, and his mind was a jumbled mess.

Would they call on him to say something?  Was he supposed to contribute ideas? Oh, gosh, what if he said something stupid? 

The strange, out-of-body experience continued as Peter walked to a seat with his name in front of it on a neat white card. It was all the way at the end of the table with some newer Avengers, and his heart started to race even more as he realized Tony would be clear at the opposite end of the table.

Peter looked down as he sat and closed his eyes, trying to get his breathing under control. He could do this. No need to freak out. He was sitting next to Falcon. Falcon was nice. And the girl on the other side- Wanda, he remembered- was nice. It’s fine. He’s fine.

He looked up, but the sight of Bruce Banner talking to Steve Rogers made it clear very quickly he was very much not fine, and he looked back down so fast his neck cracked.

“Hey,” an accented voice called. He looked over to meet Wanda’s eyes. “First meeting?” she asked. Peter nodded, not trusting his voice. “You’re going to be just fine. I was terrified the first time I met them all, too. Well, met them for real.” 

Peter remembered hearing about her powers. She must have had a lot of reason to be scared to meet them all after manipulating their brains. Some of the tightness in his chest loosened at her words and he smiled at her gratefully. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Peter, right?” 

“Yeah. Wanda?”

She smiled. “Yes.” She thought for a moment before reaching into a purse at her feet to pull out a blue, ballpoint pen and offering it to Peter. “Here. I promise I’m not using my powers, but I can tell without them when a brain is being too loud. If it gets too much, go ahead and doodle on my hand. It helps. Steve let me do it my first few meetings, and I still bring the pen just in case.”

Their conversation ended abruptly as Nick Fury stood up, but Peter took the pen and smiled gratefully again. He would have made it through the meeting just fine, feeling much better after his small conversation with Wanda. But then he was asked to introduce himself.

He stood up, hugging his arms to himself, a nervous habit he’s had since childhood. “Hi, I’m Peter. Uh, Spiderman, but nobody else knows that besides you guys and my Aunt. I’m 17, I live in Queens.” He hesitated, before deciding that was probably all they needed to hear. “It’s nice to meet you all,” he said, and awkwardly gave a small wave before sitting down.

He was breathing fast again, overthinking every word that he said, his brain getting “too loud,” as Wanda put it. He jumped slightly as her hand slid into his and she nodded to the pen.

Grateful for the distraction, he uncapped the pen and started drawing. He was no artist, but he could draw basic geometric shapes and soon he was so engrossed in the motion of the pen and ink swishing across her skin that his brain is quiet enough for him to actually pay attention to the rest of the meeting. The hour passed quickly as he drew circles and squares and infinity signs (which he saw somewhere was good for anxiety). He didn’t take his eyes off the smooth motion of the pen until he heard chairs squeak as everybody stood up.

“Thank you,” he murmured to Wanda, putting as much gratitude as he could into his voice as he handed her the pen.

She smiled at him. “Any time. It wasn’t a bother at all. If you ever need it again, I’ll be right here.”

He nodded and started to turn around, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look at her again. “Welcome to the team,” she said, and Peter couldn’t help but smile at her.

As everyone gathered around to greet him, he forgot what he was so nervous about in the first place. Stars in his eyes replaced the butterflies in his stomach as he shook hands with his childhood heroes. 

“Peter, Stark has told me much about you!” Thor boomed, and easily scooped the young boy up in a bear hug which nearly gave Peter a heart attack because Thor (Thor!) is hugging him.

“Okay, Let the kid breathe,” Steve said, shaking Peter’s hand and dispelling any lingering doubts about hard feelings due to Germany.

“N-nice to meet you both, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Thor, sirs,” Peter stammered out. 

“Alright, Underoos,” Tony cut in, saving Peter from embarrassing himself. “Have you met everyone? You ready to head to the lab for a couple hours before we get you home?”

Peter nodded and bid goodbye to everyone (Thor promising to come spend more time with him at some point) before he and Tony walked together down the hall to the elevator.

“Everyone was really nice. Thanks for inviting me.”

“You're welcome. I was worried you were gonna bolt at first,” Tony teased.

“I was really nervous,” Peter admitted, looking down. “But Wanda helped.”

“Yeah, she’s a good kid. Like you. I knew you two would get along!”

Peter blushed, pleased at the praise. The elevator opened, and as they headed down to the labs, a thought occurred to him.

“Did you put me and Wanda together on purpose?”

Tony shrugged. “Like I said, I thought she might help you be less nervous around all those stuffy superheroes. I’m glad it worked.”

And Peter’s heart filled with gratitude. His brain is blissfully quiet, he made a new friend, met his childhood heroes, and got to spend time with his Mentor.

Maybe being an Avenger really wouldn’t be that bad!

[weartirondad]

My Superhero Wear

Summary: Peter is looking for a superhero costume. Tony is confused at first and then gets to tinkering on a Batmobile.

ao3 I FF.net

“Hey kid, what are you up to?”, Tony asked upon seeing Peter already curled up on the couch in his workshop with his laptop on his lap, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

The teenager barely glanced up when he took the apple juice his mentor handed him and that intrigued Tony because - slowly fading hero worship or not - Peter always greeted him with a smile so big and wonderful it made him wonder how something so innocent had found a place in this cruel world. 

He let himself plop down next to the kid and leaned back with his arm stretched out on the back rest behind him, peaking over Peter’s shoulder. 

“I’m just looking for a costume for our last week of high school. We’re doing a motto week”, he explained, finally looking at Tony with a frown on his face as he took a sip from his juice before setting the glass back down on the table next to the couch. 

“And you want to go as a vampire?”, Tony asked in amusement, letting his eyes skim through the Amazon search he had open. “What kind of motto is that? Because if it’s horror then you are not allowed to go as a vampire, there are so many better costumes than-“ 

“No”, Peter laughed, “It’s not horror and I’m not going as a vampire. I’m just looking for a Batman cloak for the superhero motto.” 

“You’re-“, he paused, trying to make sense of what the kid had just said and failing spectacularly. After closing his mouth a few times without actually forming words he settled on a lame, “What?” 

“Batman?”, the teenager was watching him a little worriedly, “You know, that guy from the DC comics that protects Gotham?” 

“I know who Batman is”, Tony shot back with an eye roll, “The question is why on earth would you even consider going as Batman? You’re literally a superhero yourself. You know tons of real superheroes.” 

Peter grimaced at that, “Well, I think going to school dressed up as Spiderman would be a little too on the nose, don’t you think?”, he shrugged, “Besides, I like the Batman comics. You know he’s literally just a guy with fancy tech who decides to save the world just because he can. He’s not some alien or god with super powers. He’s just a man and he’s been through a lot and he’s still a hero.” 

“Right. Orphaned, rich, depending on his Butler to get him through the day, fancy tech, good looks, sort of a playboy, kind of a douche”, Tony trailed off, eyebrow raised in mock surprise, “I know who you could dress up as!” 

“You’re not a douche”, Peter gave back simply, ignoring the rest of the statement and leaning against his mentor’s side, “And you’re way way cooler than Batman anyway. Even without Ironman. I mean he needs people to design his tech for him. Also, I don’t think he’d be a very good dad”, he added as an afterthought, glancing up at Tony through his lashes. 

“Oh and I am?”, the billionaire wanted to know with a big grin, ruffling the kid’s hair as he leaned in closer.

“Well, you’re alright”, he shrugged even while turning his head to rest comfortably in the scrape of Tony’s neck, “But you forgot my snacks. You shouldn’t starve your enhanced Superkids. Or so I’ve heard.” 

 “I did not forget your snacks”, he argued and hadn’t he been so comfortable he would’ve toyed with the thought of leaning away just so he could cross his arms to pout. As it was, he really didn’t feel like moving and instead continued playing with the kid’s hair until it was thoroughly messed up. “I got us a mini fridge for the lab and you’ll find it to be filled with everything your heart may desire.” He felt more than a little proud of himself when Peter craned his neck to look over to where he was pointing.

“Did you get Doritos?”, he nodded in content before relaxing against Tony’s chest once more and when he heard the confirmation he grinned up at the man, “Well, then you’re the best dad ever.” 

“That’s what I thought”, Tony smirked, “So, to get back to the matter at hand, why aren’t you going as Ironman? You know I could give you some cool gadgets, all de-weaponized of course.”

“I know”, Peter practically whined, “But I’ve been dressing up as Ironman for these things since forever and MJ and Ned ordered me to come up with something new for our last week of school.” 

The billionaire smiled widely, pleased at both the admission and the fact that Peter wasn’t even embarrassed by it anymore. He had to get May to show him the pictures that undoubtedly existed. 

“Okay”, he said, “Then why not one of the other Avengers?”, he wanted to know curiously, “War Machine is kind of cool or, you know, the Hulk. I could make you a Hawkeye bow and send you out as Legolas or how about some fancy patriotic shield and a little helmet with wings so you can be our all favorite Capsicle.” 

Peter groaned at that, “War machine’s too similar to IronMan to count, I really don’t wanna run around with a costume that makes me like triple my size and I really really don’t want to be Captain America when I can’t be Ironman.” 

“Alright, squirt”, he said instead of making a big deal about his Cap dislike. They had had that argument a few times already and it always ended with Peter stubbornly refusing to listen to whatever he was saying in Steve’s defense.

Honestly, he knew the kid didn’t like the hero because of his fight with him, Tony, and as much as he tried to make him see that it wasn’t solely the other man’s fault, he couldn’t help but be happy about his stubbornness on the topic. Not for the first time he wondered if that was what it felt like to be a parent and to have someone look up at you with so much trust, as if you could do no wrong. It was nice. It made him feel loved and it made him want to be that person that Peter saw in him. 

“So we’re going to be making you a Batman costume then”, he declared, sitting up and leaning forward, pulling up a Starkpad and starting to type away, creating a new file on the matter. 

“I- uh, you really don’t have to do that”, Peter squeaked even as he leaned against Tony’s shoulder to get a better look at the hologram that popped up in front of them, “Wow. What are you planning?” 

“Well, a Batmobile for starters”, Tony laughed at his kid’s stare and continued working on a prototype for the car. He might’ve toyed around with the idea before Peter had ever brought it up. 

“And you’re gonna go over the outfit and if you want a cape that’s fine but you’re not going to be fighting crime with a cape. You’ll need an armor and the mask of course.” 

“This is going to be so cool!”, the teenager exclaimed, jumping up and bolting for his workplace with a cheer, “Do you think we could add something like interrogation made - only with a really deep Batvoice this time? Or- or, I could try to make the armor a little bit like my spider suit. Obviously not in red but what if-“ 

Tony let the kid ramble, only giving his input every once in a while when his imagination went a little too far or when he had an idea himself that he knew Peter would love. Otherwise he kept designing the car, finding that he had rarely ever designed his own cars and that it turned out to be a lot of fun. Maybe he could make Peter his own car as a graduation present. Or they could build one together. 

But right now he was perfectly content designing something incredibly over the top just so his kid could have a blast during his last week of school and that felt like the most important project he’d ever worked on. Besides the Spiderman suit.

[j0ebay]

Spiraling Ch 2

Peter Parker x Stark!OC, platonic!Loki x Stark!OC

Warning(s): IW SPOILERS, mentions of blood, fighting, lowkey angst, fluff

Word Count: 2321

A/N: So, this basically takes place after infinity war assuming all the dead people come back. Maggie is highkey based off of Maggie Greene/Rhee from Walking Dead because I love her so so so much. I’m really stoked this chapter is finally out so enjoy and feedback is deeply appreciated!! 💙💙

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chapter 1   chapter 3

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams” -Dr Seuss

To say Geneva lived by the phrase “Just because something isn’t broken, doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed” would be an understatement. She was constantly finding ways to decrease reaction time and upgrade suit abilities. Geneva mainly took pride in Karen, given that it was the first “big project” Tony let her work on and everyone knows how well that worked out.

    So, there was Geneva sitting in a desk chair in the lab coding updates for Karen. Her long brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail as she was squinting through her tortoise shell glasses that perfectly framed her face as she worked. The works of AC/DC could be heard throughout the whole building and everyone knew this was how she concentrated and drowned out the malicious head voices. It also drowned out the sound of Tony walking into the lab.

    “Hey Gee” he says, getting no answer from the teenage girl, deep in concentration. He tries again “Geneva” this time a little louder. Still nothing. Frustrated, he yells “GENEVA MARIE STARK” which caused her to jump and turn around. The music paused on it’s own with the stereo remote across the room. Tony knits his eyebrows together in confusion and she just points to her head, saying “I’m kinda trying to get everything back and figure everything out”. He nods and says “You mind picking up some files and groceries for me?”

    She bites the inside of her cheek in thought. She really should finish this up. She’s almost done making reaction times quicker. Geneva takes her glasses off and puts her face in her hands “Yeah I can”. She taps a few keys on the computer, saving her work, stands up and walks past Tony who says “Address and list are already on your phone, thanks”

    Peter stands at his locker shuffling through his belongings when he hears his name being called in the distance. He closes his locker door to reveal the one and only Ned Leeds. “Hey, Peter! We’re still on for tonight right?” Peter nods and then his eyes widen in realization “If it’s cool, I invited Gee to help out. She’s really good at chemistry and knows more than the both of us.” Ned laughs and shakes his head “You still believe she’s real? Peter she doesn’t exist” “What?” Flash steps into the conversation as he walks by “We’re talking about Peter’s imaginary girlfriend again?” Peter lets out a heavy sigh and directs his gaze to the tile floor, shaking his head “Cause we all know you’re not gonna get one Penis Parker” He continues walking away along with messing up Peter’s hair. He takes out his phone and is about to text Gee when the hairs on his arm stick up. His eyes widen as he bolts outside to see what’s wrong. He sprints around the school after texting May to see what’s wrong. Nothing was around the school and May texted back saying she was fine. “What is going on?” he continuously asked himself until he realized the one thing left on his radar. Geneva.

    The one thing Tony didn’t know about sending Gee on errands is that they almost always take her through the bad part of town. That’s where she found herself now. She put in earbuds and pretended to listen to music so she could avoid all the people catcalling her. “The convenience store is on the next block. The convenience store is on the next block” is what she always tells herself. It seemed as if the street keep getting longer and longer the faster she walked. “Hey, pretty girl” she heard from her right side. She kept walking, slightly picking up the pace. She felt someone behind her as her pace quickened again, speeding up to just a little bit under a jog. “Cutie can’t even take a fucking compliment, she’s too shy” She hears another man say until she gets cut off by third man. “Where do you think you’re going, Princess?” A lump the size of a golf ball forms in her throat as she mumbles “the store”. A meaty hand lands on her face, squishing her cheeks together and forcing her to look up at him.

“Whaddya doin’ out here in the middle of the day all by yourself?” The grip on her face tightens as another one grabs her waist. Gee gulps and says “I don’t want any trouble”. The three men surrounding her all laugh wildly. “You don’t want any trouble? You aren’t from around here, little miss, I can tell you that right now. You look you come from money, got any for us?” The adrenaline begins to course through the teenager’s veins by just saying one word “No.” They all laugh again. “That wasn’t a question, little girl.” her backpack was ripped from her as she screams “NO” again before taking a punch to the stomach. Geneva falls to the ground as they kick her until she sees the lid of a garbage can. She concentrates less on the blows to her gut and more on bringing the lid over. There was a loud clank and the main guy fell to the ground along with the lid. One of the other guys hits the wall with the flick of her wrist and the third, and final guy charged at her getting a blow to her face in. Geneva was knocked back a little bit as the guy swings again, she dodges and elbows him in the head causing him to fall down.

    Out of nowhere Geneva hears a faint pssst and looks up to see a web at the top of the wall along with the one and only spider-man. “Gee you okay?” He asks climbing down to face her. She holds her eye in pain saying “Yeah yeah I’m good” while turning to continue walking. “Well, at least let me walk you home.” She stops and sighs. “I still have errands to run, spidey. Besides, shouldn’t you be in school right now?” He scratches the back of his neck and says “don’t worry about it. I can get May to say it was a family emergency or something” She turns back around, “Actually?”. He nods and catches up to her. “So, what errands you got in mind?”

    “Hey Maggie!” Geneva says as she walks into her favorite convenience store, still holding her eye with Peter (who insisted on making a pit stop to change out of the spidey suit because “You walking around with spiderman is just gonna put a bigger target on your back”). Maggie is the owner of the small store that Geneva visits constantly, causing a friendship to spark. “The usual, Gee?” She asks not looking up. Geneva lets out a little laugh “Yeah I gotta get some stuff for Tony too. Maybe some ice would be great.” She looks up with a confused look on her face until she sees Geneva holding her eye “OH MY GOODNESS WHAT DID YOU DO?”. It’s like a switch flipped in the woman as she instantly speed walks around getting paper towels and an ice pack, giving them to Gee.

    “Seriously, I’m fine it just stings a little.” Gee says while taking the ice “No concussion, no nothing” Maggie turns her attention to the boy with her “Who’s this?”. Geneva furrows her eyebrows in confusion before she remembers Peter. “Oh! Maggie this is Peter”. Her eyes widen “THIS IS THE PETER YOU WERE TELLING ME ALL ABOUT???” Geneva instantly remembers gushing about Peter to Maggie and looks down at the floor hiding her rosy cheeks. “Yeah um,” She gulps “I’ll just grab whatever Tony wants and you said you have the sour gummy worms and cream soda?” Maggie nods and says “They’re in the back. Lemme get ‘em for you”

    After shopping and a bit more walking, Geneva and Peter return to Stark Tower (after relocating...again). She steps out of the elevator seeing Tony on the couch watching TV, puts the bag of groceries on the table along with the files and says “Here’s your bitchass stuff” while storming off to the bathroom to get some peroxide on her cuts. Hissing in pain, she lifts up her shirt to reveal her abdomen, which already started the bruising process “Shit. No crop tops for a while, Stark”

    After cleaning herself up even more, dealing with worried Pepper, Tony and (especially) Loki, and begging Happy to drive her, Gee was finally ready to go to Peter’s for another study session. “Thank you Happy!” she says getting out of the car once they reach the Parker residence. She lets out a small giggle at his grumbled “yeah sure whatever” as he drives away.

As she walks up the steps to the apartment, she’s instantly greeted with a hug from May before she could even knock on their door. “He’s just in his room with Ned, sweetheart”. Gee nods and walks into Peter’s room. “Hey guys!” She says and instantly Peter stands up from where he’s sitting and wraps her in a hug. The two teenagers instantly become flustered at the feeling of holding and being held by each other and pull away with blush creeping on their faces. “Uh, Gee this is Ned.” She lets out the giggle Peter finds always infectious and asks “The one who doesn’t believe in me?” He nods and she sticks her hand out to Ned “Geneva Stark, nice to meetcha”. Ned’s eyes go wide as he stumbles over his own words “uh, y-you’re actually a-a real person. Oh my god I-I’m so sorry I didn’t think you were real. I-It’s just you see a lot of news that’s fake” She laughs again “It’s fine, really. I swear, half the population thinks I’m a myth.”

    In reality, the “study session” was about 20 minutes of actual studying and then Star Wars. Peter leans over to Geneva, who’s emersed in the movie and whispers “I’m sorry”. She turns her head and furrows her eyebrows. “What for?”. He looks down “I didn’t get there fast enough and you got hurt. It’s all my fault”. Geneva turns so she faces Peter “Hey, look at me,” she takes his face in her hands, forcing his gaze towards her “If anything, it was my fault for being a jackass towards them. Actually, let’s just blame Tony for this one cause he’s the one who sent me out in the first place. But, it was a learning experience more or less. I can move things with my mind easier than I could before. Besides, I wasn’t hurt terribly, just some bruised ribs and maybe a black eye at the most. Nothing terrible, nothing permanent, but thanks for being there, Pete.” She slips her hand in Peter’s giving it a tight squeeze and flashes him a warm smile. The small moment is ruined by Geneva’s phone ringing. She answers, talks for a bit then hangs up “It’s Pepper. She wants me home and I guess there’s a pissed off Happy outside” She stands up, Peter and Ned following. Peter lets out a chuckle “The real question is, when is Happy not pissed off?” Geneva burst out laughing making Peter’s eyes light up and a confused expression to cross Ned’s face. “I swear,” she says, “I’ve lived with them for three years and I’ve never ever seen that man crack a smile! Well, it was nice meeting you Ned” she waved at him and pulls Peter in for a hug “Bye, Pete” she says, pulls away and waves while walking out the door.

    “Dude,” Ned says once the door shuts “you totally have a crush on her.” Peter feels a knot in his stomach and lets out a nervous laugh “What? No what are you talking about?” He feels the heat rise in his cheeks. “Peter, c’mon you totally like her. You walked her home today despite her insisting she was fine and just now you were totally heart eyes over her.” Peter scoffs “I was not heart eyes over her” “Ooh! Are we talking about Peter’s crush on Geneva? Shoot did she leave already?” May butts into the conversation. “Yeah, May she did and I DON’T HAVE A CRUSH ON HER! I mean seriously, Mr.Stark would kill me if he found out I like her” May’s eyes widen as she screams “PRESENT TENSE! PRESENT TENSE!”, followed by Ned saying one last “You totally have a crush on her. My mom’s here I’ll see you later.” Peter and Ned do the handshake and after Ned leaves, Peter glares at May. The rosy color lingers on his cheeks as May grabs him by the shoulders and states “It’s perfectly fine if you do like her. She’s a very lovely person and you shouldn’t be afraid of that Tony Stark” He purses his lips and says “Thanks, May. I’m gonna go to bed.” while walking away hearing a “goodnight” behind him.

    Peter crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. He envisioned her hazel eyes and how they got really small when she smiled. He flashed back to every time he made her laugh and smiled at the sound running through his mind. He thought about her hair and how it perfectly framed her face, her style and how it screamed her personality and her glasses, which no matter how many times she made comments about ugly she looked in them, he would always be dying to tell her that she was wrong. He mentally cursed at himself for not getting to her sooner but boy, she could kick some ass. He processed his feelings of hurt and heartbreak whenever she was sad or got in a fight. Peter Parker had finally come to a conclusion about his feelings for Geneva Stark. “Mr.Stark is gonna kill me” he mumbled before drifting off to sleep with her on his mind.

TAGS: 

EVERYTHING: @og-baby-ob14 @were-all-gay-down-here @softiespidey @saturn-aka-six

SPIRALING: @upsidedownparker @bagelbiites @spidergirl192327 @theasexualbunny  @nerdofthehighestcalibre

[avengers-sweethearts]

Smart (Peter Parker x Reader)

You watched him silently from across the theatre. It wasn't meant to be creepy but you couldn't help but stare. His smile was radiant and he stood tall with confidence. Well as much confidence as a dork could have.

"Y/n" Liz called from the stage. "You're up"

You were alarmed that the place you were to take was right next to the boy you were starting at. You made your way up to the stage awkwardly and took a seat next to the brunette.

"Alright everyone this is Y/n she's new to decathlon let's give her a warm welcome" Liz said starting to clap as everyone joined in.

"Hi, I'm Peter" The boy said quietly as he leaned over and shook your hand.

"Nice to meet you" You smiled as you retuned his handshake but had to turn away in a desperate attempt to hide your blush.

"Alright" Liz said holding up her question card. "Using mental math what is seven thousand nine hundred fifty-three divided by fifteen"  

You instantly hit the bell in front of you. "Five hundred thirty point two"

"That is correct. Nice work" Liz nodded at you.

"Wow you're really smart" Peter said smiling at you.

"I saw you reaching for the bell" You said giving him a little side smirk.

"Where do you sit at lunch?" He asking ignoring your attempt to deflect the compliment.

"Oh" You laughed rather awkwardly. "I'm usually in the band room. I don't really have anyone to sit with in the lunch room"

"Now you do" Peter said smiling at you. "I just sit with my friend Ned. We'd love to have someone else join us"

"Alright" You said tentatively. It was that damned smile you couldn't say no to.

Practice continued with Peter telling you about himself in between questions and challenging you as to who could hit the bell first.

You were really excited for lunch the next day so you could sit next to Peter and his friend. Class ended and the day was over. You went home that night with Peter's number and a smile on your face.

You two had texted most of the night and at the lunch the next day it was like the two of you were old friends. Ned couldn't stop staring and you blushed when he finally admitted you were just too pretty not to stare in which Peter softly laughed.

When it came time for decathlon practice you watched as Peter talked with Mr. Harrington.

"Peter is not going" One of the girls said clearly upset.

"Really, right before nationals?" Liz said somewhat annoyed.

"It's the Stark internship" Peter said clearly feeling guilty. "If Mr. Stark needs me I need to be here"

"Alright" Liz said. "Flash looks like you're in for Peter"

"Oooo" He said kicking his feet up on a table. "I gotta check my calendar I have a hot date with Black Widow coming up"

"Shut up Flash" You sneered unable to help yourself.

"Excuse me" Flash said removing his feet and coming over to you.

"That's enough" Peter said standing up and blocking Flash's path towards you.

At the end of practice you caught up with Peter. You were really disappointed that he wasn't going to DC with you guys. "This Stark internship keeps you pretty busy doesn't it?" You asking now becoming super curious as to what he was doing.

Peter scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah well I'm hoping I can do more some day"

You smiled. "I wish you could come"

He gave a small sad smile. "I know me too. I'll see you around school, I promise" He said running out the door as the bell rang.

The next couple days blurred together for you in anticipation for nationals in DC. Peter seemed really distracted and you didn't see him too much.

The day came for nationals and as you were boarding the bus Peter ran over. You watched from the side of the bus as his jacket was returned from Flash and he boarded the bus.

"Look who decided to join us" You said poking him. To your surprise he was extremely muscled and you pulled away because the bush was creeping into your cheeks again.

"Yeah well I think this trip will be important" He said looking over at Ned.

On the way there you sat next to Peter while you guys practiced. Suddenly his phone rang and he excused himself and joined Ned in the back of the bus. What was up with him?

When you arrived at the hotel you were all assigned to your rooms and you ended up with Liz. At around midnight she poked you and you pulled your headphones out. "Come on we're all going to go swimming"

You chuckled and changed into your red and white polka-dot bathing suit. You and Liz both snuck out your door as quiet as possible and rounded up the others.

On your way to the pool you passed Peter. "Hey are you coming? We're going swimming"

"Oh" Peter said looking startled. "I was actually going to do some studying"

"Really" You scoffed. "I'll come with you. I really don't want to swim anyway"

"No" Peter basically yelled. "I mean, no, I want you to have fun and you're so smart you don't need to study" He said wavering at his own words.

He was dressed rather funny in a hoodie with a huge backpack. What was he up to? "Are you sure you don't want to come?" You asked one more time wishing he'd change his mind.

"I'm sure" He nodded seeming disappointed at his own answer. "I'll see you tomorrow at the decathlon" He said squeezing your hand and walking away.

"See you" You breathed softly.

You walked down to the pool and joined the rest of the team. As you sunk down into the hot tub you realized something. You loved Peter, you really did. He just seemed so distant lately. Maybe he wasn't interested in you at all.

You pushed your thoughts from your mind and decided to enjoy the rest of the night. After everyone was done you all tucked in for the night.

The next morning you were banging on Peter and Ned's door. "Guys come on we're gonna be late"

"Ummm coming" Ned said in an oddly panicked voice. He quickly flung the door open.

"Where's Peter?" You asked trying to get a look behind Ned.

"Uh he doesn't feel good" He said slamming the door shut.

"Maybe I should check on him" You said reaching for the handle.

"No it's ok" Ned said frantically pulling your arm away. "He's sleeping now"

You were silent for a long time with a scowl on your face. "Alright fine" You huffed. "Let's go"

The ride there was fairly quiet. Everyone was nervous, but Ned seemed the most nervous of all. Why wasn't Peter here? Feeling a little sick couldn't stop Peter Parker. Right?

Upon entering the decathlon the check in desk collected your phones. Then you all filed on stage and took your places. The decathlon went on for about an hour and a half. Then finally it came down to the last question.

The bell from your team rang almost instantly after the question asked and Michelle spoke up. "Zero" She said with a shrug.

"That's correct" The announcer said and you all burst into joy.

As a reward Mr. Harrington said you could all visit the Washington Monument. You and Ned entered the huge building with Liz close behind.

"Peter where are you?" Ned asked into his phone.

"Is that Peter?" You asked getting closer to Ned and attempting to grab the phone.

"Phone on the conveyer belt please" The security guard said as Ned tossed it on the belt along with his backpack.

By the time the phone had come back through Peter's call had been disconnected. The ride up the elevator was pretty boring. The tour guide made it even worse.

All of a sudden something exploded and the elevator stopped working. "Look at the ceiling" One of the kids exclaimed.

"Don't worry, we're perfectly safe and our emergency protocols are still in place" The tour guide said in an anything but comforting voice.

Some security guards managed to get the top hatch open as well as the closest level's doors. The team slowly started to file up and out. Flash was the last one out before the elevator began to shake and fall.

You and Liz clung to each other and screamed and Mr. Harrington and Ned backed themselves up against the walls. All of a sudden the elevator was stopped and Spider-Man dropped down bracing the elevator with his feet.

"Everybody ok?" He asked as he started to pull you all up slowly.

When you reached the open door Ned was pulled out, then Mr. Harrington stepped out extending his hand to you two girls.

"Go on" You urged Liz and helped her up.

Suddenly the elevator started to shake again and Spider-Man's webbing snapped sending you plummeting down.

"Y/n, no!" Spider-Man yelled as he extended his arm and webbed your hand leaving you suspended in mid air.

Your breath hitched as he caught you. You were terrified but something about him let you know it would be ok.

He slowly lifted you up and into his arms. Before he set you down on the level he clung tightly to you almost as if he was hugging you.

He finally set you down on the platform and Ned pulled you back. He hung there for a moment and looked directly at you. "Are you ok?"

You nodded silently. Then yet again his webbing snapped and down he fell.

"Are you really friends with Peter Parker" Flash yelled down the now destroyed elevator shaft.

"Are you ok?" Ned asked you somewhat freaking out.

"Yeah, I'm fine" You nodded still in a bit of a daze from the whole ordeal.

Moments later paramedics rushed in and insisted on taking you and some of the others to the hospital just to be checked out. Though things were crazy and moved by in a blur, one thing stood out: Spider-Man called you by your name.

When you got back to the hotel it was night. Without hesitation the first thing you did was go right to Peter and Ned's room. Without knocking you opened the door.

Ned was startled and laying in bed. Confirming your suspicions Peter was not there. "Ned what do you know"

"About what?" He asked jumping out of bed and backing up against the wall.

"Spider-Man. I know it's Peter. It has to be Peter" You said starting to pace back and forth. "He wasn't at the decathlon, he disappeared last night, he's always busy....he knew my name" You said stopping and looking at Ned who still remained shocked and silent against the wall. "Ned" You said getting closer to him. "Is Peter Spider-Man?"

"I am" The voice from the doorway called out. You jumped and turned around meeting Peter's chocolate brown eyes. You couldn't read the expression on his face. Was he mad? Relieved? Afraid? Peter shut the door gently.

"I didn't tell her anything" Ned said defensively.

Peter's face finally cracked into a smile. "It's ok Ned"

"So he knew" You said throwing your hands up in the air. "Why didn't you tell me? I've been so worried about you! Just a small heads up so I didn't have to worry. Why didn't you just tell me, that way....."

"Because I love you" Peter finally burst out, talking over you.

"What?" You asked stopping mid sentence. You could feel your heart racing.

Without hesitation Peter lunged forward and grabbed your waist pressing his lips against yours. They were warm, soft, but slightly chapped. His grip was tight on you but you felt safe.

"Um should I leave?" Ned interrupted your kiss.

"Sorry Ned" You said laughing resting your head on Peter's shoulder.

"Was that ok?" Peter asked suddenly very nervous.

"Yes" You nodded. "I love you too"  

He grinned but then his smile dropped and he paced away from you. "I wanted to tell you, I really did. It's just that I care about you so much and I thought if I told you that it would put you in danger. Ned found out on accident" He added shaking his head and Ned grinned sheepishly.

"I understand" You nodded. "But honestly I'm glad I know now"

"Me too" Peter nodded. "Because I'm going to need your help"

[go-redgirl]

President Donald Trump (R) speaks during an event honoring members of the Native American code talkers in the Oval Office of the White House, on November 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty Images)

Transcript: Trump’s Sen. Warren ‘Pocahontas’ slam at Navajo event

CHICAGO NEWS 11/27/2017, 03:15pm

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT AN EVENT HONORING THE NATIVE AMERICAN CODE TALKERS

Oval Office

2:27 P.M. EST

MR. MACDONALD: Thank you, Honorable President of this great United States of America, President Trump. Thank you for inviting us, Navajo Code Talkers, to the Capitol and to the White House of this great nation we call the United States.

Today, we have with us three of the thirteen surviving Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. First, we have Fleming Begaye. Fleming Begaye is 97 years old, the oldest veteran of World War II. He survived the Battle of Tarawa. His landing craft was blown up and he literally had to swim to the beach to survive. Also, on Saipan, he also landed on Tinian where he got shot up real badly, survived one year in naval hospital.

We have Thomas Begay, also one of the Code Talkers who were on Iwo Jima, a tough battle, where Three Marine Division landed on Iwo; 5th Marine Division — he was part of the Code Talkers within the 5th Marine Division.

Also, as if Marine Corps was not enough, he enlisted to be United States Army, and served in the Korean War. Survived that awful battle at Chosin.

My name is Peter MacDonald. I’m the president of the 13 surviving Navajo Code Talkers. I went in — I’m 90 years old — I went in when I was 15 years old in 1944. I was with the 1st Marine Brigade on Guam, and then went on to North China with 6th Marine Division to get those Japanese in Northern China to surrender. They didn’t want to surrender, but it took 1st Marine Division, 6th Marine Division to get them to surrender eventually. We had a separate treaty ceremony in Tsingtao, China, October 25th, 1945.

Navajo Code Talkers, in the early part of World War II, the enemy was breaking every military code that was being used in the Pacific. This created a huge problem for strategizing against the enemy. Eventually, a suggestion was made in early 1942 — February ’42, essentially — to use Navajo language as a code.

The Marine Corps recruited 29 young Navajos, not telling them what they are being recruited for, because this was a top-secret operation. They were just asked, “Do you want to join the Marines? You want to fight the enemy? Come join the Marines.” So they volunteered.

Twenty-nine young Navajos joined the Marines in 1942, after going through boot camp, passed boot camp with flying colors; combat training — the same thing. Then entered the Marine Corps Communication School — passed that. Then they were separated from all the rest of the Marines, took them to a top-secret location just east of San Diego — Camp Elliott. That’s where they created a military code to be used in the Pacific.

After creating 260 code words, the 29 young Marines — half of them were sent overseas to join the 1st Marine Division. The 1st Marine Division was getting ready to go on to the first offensive movement in the Pacific, Guadalcanal.

On August 7, 1942 — 75 years ago — 1st Marine Division hit the beaches of Guadalcanal with 15 Navajo Code Talkers. This was the first battle where the Navajo code was to be tested in actual battle to test to see how our memory would be under heavy enemy fire. Well, three weeks after the landing, General Van De Griff, Commander of the 1st Marine Division, sent word back to United States saying, this Navajo code is terrific. The enemy never understood it; he said, we don’t understand it either, but it works. Send us some more Navajos.

So that opened up the gate for United States Marine Corps, San Diego to start recruiting more and more Navajos, using the same tactics: “You want to fight? You want to join the Marines? You want to wear this beautiful blue uniform? Come join the Marines.” So we all volunteered. That’s how he went in, that’s how he went in, that’s how I went in.

Boot camp, combat training, communication schools. Then we all get separated, go to that special top-secret Navajo code school to learn to code. Initially, 260 code words, all subject to memory only. Eventually, by the time the war ended, 1945, there were 400 of us that went to war. And also, our code words grew to 600 code words, subject to memory only. In every battle two communication networks were established: Navajo communication network for all top-secret, confidential messages; the second network, English network, for all other messages.

In every battle — from the frontline, beach command post, command ship, all other ships — Code Talkers were used. On the island of Iwo, Major Connor said, the first 48 hours of battle, over 800 messages were sent by the 5th Marine Division, only. The first 48 hours, over 800 messages. Major Connor also said: Without Navajo, Marines would never have taken the island of Iwo Jima. (Applause.)

So thank you very much. The 13 of us, we still have one mission — that mission is to build national Navajo Code Talker Museum. We want to preserve this unique World War II history for our children, grandchildren, your children, your grandchildren to go through that museum.

Why? Because what we did truly represents who we are as Americans. America, we know, is composed of diverse community. We have different languages, different skills, different talents, and different religion. But when our way of life is threatened, like the freedom and liberty that we all cherish, we come together as one. And when we come together as one, we are invincible. We cannot be defeated. That’s why we need this national Navajo Code Talker Museum so that our children, the future generation, can go through that museum and learn why America is so strong.

Thank you very much for listening. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That’s fantastic, thank you. That’s fantastic. Thank you very much. Beautiful.

That was so incredible, and now I don’t have to make my speech. I had the most beautiful speech written out. I was so proud of it. Look. And I thought you would leave out Iwo Jima, but you got that in the end, too. (Laughter.)

And I want to tell you — you said you’re 90 years old? That’s great, because you have good genes. That means the press has got me to kick around for a long time. (Laughter.)

That was beautiful. I loved that and I loved your delivery. And the Code Talkers are amazing. And seriously, it is what I said. So what I’m going to do is give you my speech, and I want you to hold that. And I know you like me, so you’ll save it. But that was so well delivered, from the heart. That was from the heart.

So I want to give you this speech because I don’t want to bore them with saying the same thing you just said. And you said it better, believe me, because you said it from here. And I mean it from there too.

And you have a lot of great friends. Tom Cole is here, and you know Tom. And you know Jeff. So I want to thank you both, Jeff Denham. I want to thank you both for being here, and you too for being here.

Also, General Dunford, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Kelly. And I have to say, I said to General Kelly — I said, General, how good — here he is right there, the Chief; he’s the General and the Chief. I said, how good were these Code Talkers? What was it? He said, sir, you have no idea. You have no idea how great they were — what they’ve done for this country, and the strength and the bravery and the love that they had for the country and that you have for the country.

So that was the ultimate statement from General Kelly, the importance. And I just want to thank you because you’re very, very special people. You were here long before any of us were here, although we have a representative in Congress who, they say, was here a long time ago. They call her “Pocahontas.”

But you know what, I like you because you are special. You are special people. You are really incredible people. And from the heart, from the absolute heart, we appreciate what you’ve done, how you’ve done it, the bravery that you displayed, and the love that you have for your country.

Tom, I would say that’s as good as it gets, wouldn’t you say? That’s as good as you get.

General Kelly, just come up for one second. I want to just have you say what you told me, a little bit about the Code Talkers. Because it really has been — learning about you and learning about what you’ve done has been something that I’d like General Kelly to say to the press.

Go ahead, General.

GENERAL KELLY: Well, sir, as you know, being associated with United States Marines, it’s as much a cult as it is a service. And we never forget. Our motto, of course, is Semper Fidelis — always faithful. Whether you’re a young recruit at Parris Island or San Diego, or a middle-aged guy from out west, what these men did, the advantage they gave our Marines when they invaded Iwo Jima was really — and I think it was pointed out — was one of the very few factors that allowed us to be successful on that island.

Their ability to outwit the Japanese who were, you know, listening to this wonderful language and had no idea that a language like this existed on the Earth. What they did, very small number of men, sir, made the difference. We lost 6,000 Marines and 25,000 wounded on that island in 28 days of battle. It would have been a lot worse had we not had the Navajo Code Talkers. And I thank you.

Semper Fidelis. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: So they’re working on building a Navajo Code Talkers Museum. And we will help you. Okay? And we have some pretty good strength. We will help you, and you deserve it. And I want to thank you all for being here.

I assume you’re the young one in the group? Are you the young one in the group? Thank you so much for being here. You’re very special people. And without you, maybe the results would have been a lot different. I’ve heard that, actually, the results could have very well been different.

So, on behalf of the United States, thank you all. Very much appreciate it. (Applause.)

MR. MACDONALD: Mr. President, we know you’ll succeed. America is in good hands. You have all top Marine Corps generals as your assistants — (laughter) — so we know that we’re in good hands. (Applause).

THE PRESIDENT: What a group. This is a great group. Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Q What about the tax bill?

THE PRESIDENT: I think the tax bill is going very well. We had a meeting on it today. It’s going to be a tremendous tax cut — the biggest in the history of our country. You’ll have to pay a lot less tax. That’s okay. But we’re going to have a tremendous — I think we’re going to have great receptivity.

We’ve had great spirit. And I will tell you the Republican senators were up. If we win, we’ll get some Democratic senators joining us. If we don’t win, they won’t be joining us — you understand that. But, if we win, I think we’ll probably have a bipartisan bill, meaning a number of people are going to come over. But I’m not so interested in that. We’re really interested just in getting it passed.

Again, it will be the biggest tax reduction in the history of our country. It will bring jobs, it will bring a lot of income coming into the country, buying product, et cetera. And, I think it’s doing very well.

Q Is there a worry, though, that it benefits hedge fund owners during (inaudible) —

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think we’re going to have really — I think — actually, I think it’s going to benefit everybody. It’s going to mostly benefit people looking for jobs more than anything else, because we’re giving great incentives.

And we’re going to be bringing back into this country probably an excess of $4 trillion — $4 trillion — that’s outside of the country that right now, because of our tax laws, can’t come back in. And we will be bringing back at least — I think the number will be substantially higher — but at least $4 trillion, which will immediately be put to work in this country. So I think the tax bill is doing very well and I think the Republicans are going to be very proud of it. 

Thank you. END 2:43 P.M. EST

[lovelyirony]

Livin’ Easy, Lovin’ Free

Since I wanna write about Tony being a fuckin nerd with a robot tie I’M DOIN’ IT and virtually none of u can stop me bc i love my idea (pt. 1??) 

Steve Rogers was in a band. No one thought he would be in one because he was an art student in high school who was so asthmatic that he couldn’t even fast-walk without an inhaler at his side. And then in college he got big. Like, football big. But the man still had two left feet when it came to sports, so he was regretfully passed on. 

It started when Bucky accidentally forgot to unlock him out of the dorm room and left for a two-hours-away concert with Clint. Steve had already sent him a text, and Sam would retrieve him in the morning. Maybe. But Steve had nothing to do besides read his textbooks (not likely), watch TV (he had just marathoned an auction show, so no) or learn something. He chose guitar. 

He has to google it. He starts practicing. He likes it, even if the strings make his hands all rough. It’s rhythm. He just plays all night. Learns a couple of chords. 

Steve starts getting pretty good. 

He joins a band. It’s Bucky, Clint, and Sam. They’re called the Howling Commandos after Steve’s grandfather’s troop in World War II. “That’s bitchin’,” Clint comments. “We have to do that.” The group mutually agrees on it, and so it becomes. 

It’s supposed to be a local college thing. They perform stuff from Led Zeppelin and AC/DC and all the classic rock stuff, occasional softie being thrown in there. Bucky’s voice is made for raspy singing and hard rock, something Steve can’t do. He cannot sing for shit. Like, at all. He can hum. But he can work the guitar. Bucky just jokes and says “yeah, he’s got artist hands.” Which is true. He does. His fingers are nimble and Steve can shred like nobody’s business. 

They blow up after Sam, new member and all around Best Guy, releases a snippet on his Twitter to promote the band going to the pub. Way more people show up. “If you’re going to advertise, get a bigger bar,” Hill snipes as she wipes off spilled tequila. “Tequila’s coming out of your payment.” 

“Better drink some then,” Clint says. 

The Howling Commandos start performing at other venues. A record label picks them up. They’re the warm-up band for a bigger one. And it goes from there. 

They become a household name overnight. People ask you who your favorite is, if you’re going to the concert. Steve doesn’t want to be stereotyped as the Apple Pie Lifestyle Dude. While he doesn’t mind it, he gets a feeling that’s what he’s gonna get all his life. So he mixes it up. Comes out on stage with eyeliner around his eyes, making already icy eyes explode. He wears his beat-up leather jacket and works on not smiling like Mr. Rogers. Bucky thinks it’s an improvement. 

“Damn you look different,” Bucky says with a grin. “Like you’re actually gonna win a fight.” 

“Aw, shaddup.” 

Natasha Romanoff is not invincible when it comes to music she likes. She forced Tony to listen to classical music for a week straight because she was so moved by Tchaikovsky one day. She likes music. The Howling Commandos caught her eye because they’re right up her alley: classic rock without coming off as an asshole. Plus, it helps that both Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers have launched themselves into the audience to stop a pervert or to help someone who is having difficulty. They’re nice people. Natasha finds it adorably disgusting. (And if she has a thing for Barnes, then that’s her business.) 

She knows Clint Barton. They went to high school together and kept in contact. She was one of the only classmates to think that he was worth something and that he wasn’t gonna end up as a hobo somewhere. 

He got her in for free, front row. With a friend. So she chose Tony, naturally. If she brought anyone else, she wouldn’t have as much fun. 

Of course, Tony comes as he is. “Hi!” He says brightly. They’re taking his flashy Maserati so they know that Natasha means business. (Also so she can look famous and badass while walking out of the car with her held-together-with-safety-pins shirt and her ripped jeans and scuffed boots. It’s thirteen year old her’s dream.) 

Tony did not change into his Prescribed Hot Clothes. No, he’s still wearing his stupid “I’m Not Just a Businessman, I’m a Cool Businessman” attire, which meant he looked like a goofy teacher with a button-down and his robot tie. 

“I’m gonna die of embarrassment,” Natasha says. “Where’s your AC/DC shirt?” 

“In the wash,” Tony says with a shrug. “Rock isn’t about your outfit, it’s about your attitude.” Natasha snorts as she gets in the car. 

“You’re such a dork.” Tony smiles. She plugs in the aux cord. He calls one song groovy and starts humming along to one she was playing earlier. 

“I like this one.” 

“It’s called Falling Off a Jet. I like it.”* Natasha is more nervous than she looks. She makes sure that she has her ticket and Tony’s in her purse more than once. They get in no problem. Tony smiles at the security guard. They get front seats with fancy drinks and food that Tony pays for. 

The intro band is good. Natasha thinks they have potential. Tony keeps saying he likes one of the member’s neon pink shoes ironically. He dabs once. “I cannot believe I’m your friend,” Natasha groans. 

“I’m in with the kids,” Tony says. “I’m a Cool Engineer. Peter told me so.” 

“Peter would kill the president for you, his opinion means nothing.” 

The band comes on. Natasha has to admit that Bucky Barnes’ Murder Strut makes her feel some type of way. 

Tony...he’s in awe. Because here’s this blondie with icy eyes and a leather jacket, guitar slung across his body. He’s grinning as he looks out at the crowd. 

“Nat, which one is that? Is that Clint?” 

“No, Clint’s the one who just tripped,” Natasha says. “That’s Steve Rogers. He plays guitar. He’s scarily good at it.” Tony files the information away for later use. 

Steve Rogers doesn’t notice Tony Stark at first. It’s only when he bends down to get the bottle of water that he hears someone laugh and it’s loud and sincere and he looks over and...

There’s a cute guy. He’s in a button-down and a tie with something on it. Steve kind of wants to see what’s on it. He moves a bit closer. He thinks they’re robots. Interesting. 

The concert goes off without a hitch. Sharon’s interns have the lights downpat and Clint doesn’t trip again. Sam gets to sing quite a few songs, making some ladies and men scream as his mellow voice fills the stage. He keeps his eye on Cute Tie Dude. 

After the concert, Clint tells them that some friends are dropping in to say hi and meet them. 

It’s Cute Tie Dude! 

Oh no. 

Steve looks like shit. His eyes look like a raccoon's, he’s drenched in sweat, and is currently in a shirt that is advertising some stupid tourist attraction that Clint swears he saw a ghost at. 

“This is Natasha Romanoff and Tony Stark,” Clint says. Natasha’s stare lingers a bit longer on Bucky. Steve already knows that’s gonna go well. Tony steps up. 

“I uh, liked the guitar,” he says. “Oh no, I’m sure everyone says that...” 

“It’s fine,” Steve offers. “Uh, thank you. That means a lot to me.” Clint and Sam snort. 

“Loverboy,” Sam mouths at Steve. 

“Asshole,” Steve mouths right back. “So...Stark. Happen to be affiliated with Stark Enterprises?” 

“That’s my company,” Tony says. “That’s why I wore the robot tie today. I was giving tours to some schools.” Goddammit he’s too cute abort mission Steve--

“That’s so cool,” Steve says. “How were the tours?” 

And this is how Tony eventually tunes Steve’s guitar to just the right notes and fixes Sharon’s wonky light (”I think I’m in love with you,” Sharon says seriously to him, and he blushes he motherfucking blushes) and also blushes whenever Steve compliments him. 

“I had a great time talking to you,” Steve says. “You’re...great. Awesome.” Tony’s face turns red. He looks adorable. 

“Well thank you,” he says, smiling. “You weren’t too bad yourself, Rogers. You have to tell me the story of how the band formed sometime, yeah?” Steve nods. 

“Here’s my number,” He says, holding out his phone. “I...I’d like to talk to you some more, if you wouldn’t mind terribly.” 

They’re such fucking dorks. They send each other dog memes and Tony calls him to tell him that he bought another vintage painting of flowers because “it reminded me of you Steven, don’t you dare scold me” and Steve sends him presents from wherever they perform with a handwritten card and Tony sends him flowers and postcards. 

“You guys are such dorks,” Natasha says one night when they’re finally watching a movie together. 

Steve smiles down at Tony. 

They kind of are.